Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Sohar Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Sohar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,430 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,420 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,090 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,884 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,750 in Sohar, rent included.

Al-`awabi is about 33% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-`awabi sits 30% below the global median, while Sohar is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16 OMR 1.98
$6.56 OMR 2.53
-21.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.34 OMR 13.22
$20.53 OMR 7.90
67.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 OMR 3.08
$8.86 OMR 3.41
-9.71%
Cappuccino
$4.84 OMR 1.86
$4.89 OMR 1.88
-1.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 OMR 0.32
$0.69 OMR 0.27
21.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.28 OMR 0.11
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.16 OMR 5.07
$13.04 OMR 5.02
0.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.90 OMR 4.97
$14.15 OMR 5.45
-8.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 OMR 0.87
$2.20 OMR 0.85
3.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 OMR 0.48
$1.07 OMR 0.41
16.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 OMR 0.70
$3.18 OMR 1.22
-42.77%
Eggs
$2.98 OMR 1.15
$2.83 OMR 1.09
5.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.79 OMR 3.00
$13.76 OMR 5.30
-43.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 OMR 2.66
$9.08 OMR 3.49
-23.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 OMR 4.11
$14.25 OMR 5.49
-25.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 OMR 1.37
$3.25 OMR 1.25
9.23%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 OMR 0.77
$2.13 OMR 0.82
-6.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 OMR 0.91
$2.49 OMR 0.96
-4.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 OMR 0.46
$1.21 OMR 0.47
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 OMR 0.45
$1.80 OMR 0.69
-35.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 OMR 0.48
$1.77 OMR 0.68
-29.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 OMR 0.69
$1.71 OMR 0.66
5.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 OMR 0.24
$0.93 OMR 0.36
-32.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.63 OMR 2.55
$5.90 OMR 2.27
12.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 OMR 5.99
$26.28 OMR 10.12
-40.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.64 OMR 2.17
$3.86 OMR 1.49
46.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 OMR 3.47
$8.61 OMR 3.31
4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.54 OMR 0.98
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$51.5 OMR 19.81
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 OMR 1.22
$3.22 OMR 1.24
-1.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 OMR 1.03
$1.52 OMR 0.58
75.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 OMR 2.98
$10.30 OMR 3.97
-24.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.25
$0.59 OMR 0.23
8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K OMR 9,926
$18.1K OMR 6,959
42.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K OMR 8,766
$20.1K OMR 7,727
13.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 OMR 65.0
$104 OMR 40.01
62.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.28 OMR 12.04
$29.51 OMR 11.36
6.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 OMR 27.37
$89.7 OMR 34.53
-20.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.03 OMR 18.49
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.52 OMR 4.05
$11.87 OMR 4.57
-11.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$288 OMR 111
$301 OMR 116
-4.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K OMR 4,033
$6,971 OMR 2,684
50.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 OMR 21.94
$50.5 OMR 19.43
12.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75 OMR 16.85
$44.86 OMR 17.27
-2.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 OMR 35.14
$78.5 OMR 30.21
16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5 OMR 36.38
$45.98 OMR 17.70
105.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$486 OMR 187
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$379 OMR 146
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$806 OMR 310
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$682 OMR 263
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,188 OMR 457
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$784 OMR 302
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,465 OMR 949
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
6.33
-17.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al-`awabi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Al-`awabi versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Al-`awabi vs $347 in Sohar – so Al-`awabi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Al-`awabi vs Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sohar cheaper than Al-`awabi?
Yes – Sohar is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,435 per month in Al-`awabi and $2,145 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-`awabi and in Sohar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $957 in Al-`awabi and $1,430 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Al-`awabi and $301 in Sohar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-`awabi or in Sohar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-`awabi, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Sohar at $1,430. In Al-`awabi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-`awabi or Sohar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-`awabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-`awabi or Sohar?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-`awabi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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